There are numerous TV characters in starring roles who have fought cancer. Whether they battled cancer for just a few episodes, a whole season, or the entirety of the show, these characters fought for their lives. Some of them may inspire you with their honesty, and some may serve as a dramatic reminder to live the life you want. (Even Walter White has nuggets of wisdom to share.) Take a look!

Cathy Jamison (played by Laura Linney) is a high school teacher who is diagnosed with terminal melanoma at the beginning of the series. She keeps her diagnosis a secret from her friends and family for months, but her behavior gets noticeably more erratic. Cathy starts being reckless and selfish — something she hadn’t done for most of her adult life. Her diagnosis leads her to realize how precious life is, and allows her to finally feel free enough to express herself. In one instance, she is out to dinner with her husband and when the server asks what they’d like to order, Cathy replies, “I’m just having desserts and liquor.”

At the end of season 3, Lynette Scavo (played by Felicity Huffman) is diagnosed with lymphoma. The story arc lasts through the beginning of season 4. Lynette goes through chemotherapy and loses her hair, and towards the end of her treatment, she discovers that a possum is attacking her garden. She soon becomes obsessed with exterminating it, as it parallels her feelings about her cancer — and she eventually beats them both in the end.

“This is not a joke, Tom. Something has attacked our home and, when that happens, you don’t just stand by. You fight it! Screw this creature that has come into our lives uninvited and is trying to destroy us! It will not defeat me!”

C. Kramer is back in the Mitten State after a brief residency in the Sunshine State. She has an adorable dog-child, and enjoys reading, writing, going to the theatre, and finding pins on Pinterest. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor.